Christmas in Egypt 2026: Dates, Traditions & Where to Go

Most Egyptians celebrate Christmas on 7 January, since the Coptic Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar. In 2026, this falls on Thursday, 7 January 2027, which is a public holiday. Western Christmas on 25 December is quieter, but you will still see it in hotels and malls. Winter weather is mild, with daytime temperatures around 18 to 24°C.

If you are planning to spend Christmas in Egypt, the first thing to know is that there are two Christmas celebrations, and they feel very different. The main question is whether your trip will “feel like Christmas.” Honestly, it will feel more like enjoying winter sun, visiting great sites, and experiencing a Coptic festival, rather than a European Christmas market. This guide explains the dates, what is open, costs, and the best places to visit, with sources and a last-verified date so you can check our information.

How we wrote this: We based dates and traditions on information from the Coptic Orthodox Church and Egyptian press sources, linked at the end. We publish prices based on figures collected in October 2026 and mark them as approximate if sources differ. Please double-check anything time-sensitive before making a payment.

1When Is Christmas in Egypt in 2026?

Western Christmas falls on Friday, 25 December 2026, and Coptic Christmas falls on Thursday, 7 January 2027. The Coptic Orthodox Church keeps the Julian calendar, which runs 13 days behind the Gregorian one, so its 25 December is our 7 January.

Date	What it is	What to expect
Wed 25 Nov 2026 (approx.)	Start of the 43-day Nativity Fast	Coptic families eat vegan apart from seafood; look for fasting menus
Thu 24 – Fri 25 Dec	Western Christmas Eve and Day	Hotel dinners and decorations; a normal working day for most Egyptians
Thu 31 Dec	New Year’s Eve	Gala dinners in hotels and on Nile ships
Wed 6 Jan 2027	Coptic Christmas Eve	Evening Mass; roads busy near churches
Thu 7 Jan 2027	Coptic Christmas Day (public holiday)	Family meals; offices and banks closed

Here’s a tip from our team: If you can only travel for one week, try to pick the week that includes January 6 and 7. You’ll get to experience Coptic Christmas, and the nights leading up to it usually cost less than those before December 31.

2Do Egyptians Celebrate Christmas? Coptic vs. Western Christmas

Yes, Egyptians do celebrate Christmas. Most Christians in Egypt are Coptic Orthodox and celebrate on 7 January, though many families also recognize 25 December. Hotels, malls, and restaurants often feature Western-style decorations and celebrations, while Coptic traditions remain at home and in churches.

The 43-day Nativity Fast

Before Christmas, Coptic Christians observe a 43-day fast. During this time, they follow a vegan diet but can eat seafood. Children, the elderly, pregnant or nursing women, and people with health issues do not have to follow the strict fast. As a result, many Egyptian menus feature special “fasting” dishes in the weeks leading up to 7 January.

What Egyptians call Christmas

In Arabic, Christmas is called Eid el-Milad el-Magid, which means the glorious feast of the Nativity.

3How Egyptians Celebrate Christmas

Christmas Eve Mass

Pope Tawadros II leads the main liturgy on the evening of 6 January, and the service often continues past midnight. Recently, it was held at the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in the New Administrative Capital, where the President and other officials attended, so seats were usually by invitation only. In earlier years, the Pope greeted well-wishers at St Mark’s Cathedral in Abbassia on 7 January. The location and time for 2027 are not set yet, so look out for updates from the Church in late December.

If you would like to attend a service, ask your guide to help you find a local church in Coptic Cairo. Dress modestly, keeping your shoulders and knees covered. Speak quietly, do not use flash when taking photos, and always ask before photographing anyone.

Christmas food: fatta and wara’ einab

After the fast, families enjoy a big meal. Fatta, which is rice served over bread, and wara’ einab, or stuffed vine leaves, are traditional favorites. Many mixed households also serve turkey. Instead of relying on a hotel buffet, ask your guide if a family-run restaurant has a special festive menu.

Gifts and ‘eediya

Giving gifts under a tree is not a main Coptic tradition. Instead, families usually give money, known as ‘eediya, to younger relatives on Christmas Eve.

4What’s Open and Closed on Christmas Day

The Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, and Nile temples usually follow their regular hours. On 7 January, only banks and government offices close. Holiday hours can change quickly, so check the official website or ask your guide to be sure.

• On 25 December, everything runs as usual. Sites, shops, and restaurants are open.
• 7 January is a public holiday. Banks and offices are closed. Church areas get busy in the evening, and traffic near cathedrals is heavier than usual.
• To visit the Grand Egyptian Museum, book your timed ticket only through the official website, visit-gem.com. Most problems come from using third-party resellers.

5Where to Spend Christmas in Egypt

Cairo and Coptic Cairo

Cairo offers the most festive Christmas atmosphere. In Coptic Cairo, also known as Old Cairo, you can visit the Hanging Church, the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus (Abu Serga), and the Coptic Museum. All are just a short walk from Mar Girgis metro station on Line 1. According to tradition, the Holy Family found shelter here during their flight into Egypt, making these churches the best places to experience Coptic Christmas. Try to visit in the morning, when it is quieter.

If you want a festive dinner, Marriott Mena House in Giza offered a Christmas and New Year program last season. There was a buffet at 139 Pavilion on December 24 and 25, a four-course set menu at Alfredo, and a five-course New Year’s Eve dinner with a DJ, live band, and tanoura show in the Al Khalifa Ballroom. The sources we found didn’t list prices, so contact the hotel directly for the 2026 menu and rates.

Luxor and Aswan: a Nile cruise at Christmas

A three- or four-night cruise between Aswan and Luxor is a classic way to spend winter in Egypt. Days are warm, and the ships host Christmas and New Year dinners on board. Cabins and spots fill up quickly, so book this part of your trip early.

Red Sea resorts

If you’re looking to relax on the beach after visiting the temples, Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh offer Christmas and New Year programs with Western-style decorations and special dinners. The sea is a bit chilly, so bring sunbathing clothes instead of swimming gear.

6Christmas Weather in Egypt

Winter is the comfortable season. Figures below are approximate seasonal averages from published sources, not forecasts.

City	Day (°C)	Night (°C)
Cairo	18–21	9–12
Luxor	23–24	about 9
Aswan	24–25	10–12

Pro tip: desert mornings and Nile decks at night are colder than the daytime numbers suggest. Bring a fleece and a windproof layer.

7How Much Does Christmas in Egypt Cost?

Expect peak prices from about 20 December to 7 January. The figures below are published approximate amounts collected in October 2026 (about EGP 52 per US dollar). Egyptian site prices change often, so treat them as planning numbers.

Item	Price (EGP)	About (USD)
Grand Egyptian Museum, foreign adult	1,450, rising to 1,830 from 1 Nov 2026	$28 → $35
Giza Plateau (includes the Sphinx area)	700	$13
Inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu	900 (extra)	$17
Karnak Temple	600	$12
Luxor Temple	500	$10
Valley of the Kings	750	$14
Tomb of Tutankhamun (extra)	700	$13
Temple of Hatshepsut	440	$8
4-night classic 5-star Nile cruise, per person, Nov–Feb	—	$650–$975
Nile cruise in the Christmas and New Year weeks	—	can run up to double
Abu Simbel day trip	—	$95 by road, $195 by air
E-visa, single entry (multiple entry $65)	—	about $30
Tips on a 4-night cruise	—	$45–$65

Cruise and Abu Simbel figures are land prices from published operator guides and exclude international flights. Ask us for a dated written quote for your exact dates.

8Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve Dinners

Dinners are where you’ll find Western Christmas most easily. Hotels in Cairo, Giza and the Red Sea run set menus and galas, and cruise ships do the same on board. Compare what the price includes before you book: a seated set menu, a buffet, and a gala with entertainment can cost very different amounts. Book the dinner when you book the room, because the best tables go first.

9What’s Overrated and What to Skip

• Don’t expect a European-style Christmas market. There’s no street-market tradition like that here. Most festive displays are found in hotel lobbies, malls, and at church events.
• Don’t assume Christmas Eve Mass is a tourist attraction. The main national service is usually by invitation only. If you visit a church, remember it’s a place of worship.
• Avoid booking late. Cruise cabins and flights from December 20 to January 7 often sell out, and prices go up.
• Don’t buy tickets from unofficial sellers. For the Grand Egyptian Museum, always buy tickets on the official website.
• Don’t pack only for hot weather. Days are mild, but nights can get cool.

10A Sample 7-Day Christmas Itinerary

Day	Plan
1	Arrive in Cairo, evening rest, hotel Christmas dinner if traveling on 24–25 December
2	Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx, then the Grand Egyptian Museum (timed ticket)
3	Coptic Cairo (Hanging Church, Abu Serga, Coptic Museum), then Khan el-Khalili
4	Fly to Luxor, Karnak and Luxor Temple, board the Nile cruise
5	Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut, sail south
6	Edfu and Kom Ombo temples, New Year dinner onboard if dates match
7	Aswan: Philae Temple, then fly home or onward

Want to swap in Coptic Christmas? Move the trip so Day 1 falls on 5–6 January and spend the evening of 6 January in Coptic Cairo with a guide.

11Tips for Booking and Getting Your Visa

Start by booking your cruise and internal flights, then arrange your hotels and day tours. To get your visa, go to the official portal at visa2egypt.gov.eg and apply at least a week before your trip. As of September 2026, the single-entry fee was about $30, but it may increase after January 1, 2027. If you’d rather not handle this yourself, check our /luxury egypt tours packages/, /egypt christmas tours/, or /tailor-made holidays/ page to see what we offer.

12Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas in Egypt

Do Egyptians celebrate Christmas?

Yes. Christians make up a minority in Egypt, and most are Coptic Orthodox, which celebrates Christmas on 7 January after a 43-day fast. Some Egyptian Christians also celebrate on 25 December, and you’ll see hotels, malls, and restaurants put up Western-style decorations and offer special menus around that time. For visitors, Christmas is more of a quiet family and church event than a public street festival.

When is Christmas in Egypt in 2026?

Coptic Christmas falls on Thursday, 7 January 2027, and Christmas Eve is Wednesday, 6 January. Western Christmas Day is Friday, 25 December 2026. The Coptic Church follows the Julian calendar, which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar, so their 25 December falls on 7 January in the civil calendar.

Are the Pyramids, museums and temples open on Christmas Day?

Most major sites keep their regular opening hours during Christmas and New Year, but hours sometimes change with little notice. Check the Grand Egyptian Museum’s official website and ask your guide or hotel to confirm a day or two before you visit. Plan your main sightseeing for 24–26 December and 1 January, when many visitors travel or take a break.

What do Egyptians eat at Christmas?

After the 43-day Nativity Fast, which is vegan apart from seafood, Coptic families break the fast with a large meal after the Christmas Eve service. Fatta, rice served over bread, is a classic, and many tables also include wara’ einab, stuffed vine leaves. Turkey is common in households that mix Western customs with Egyptian dishes.

What is the weather like in Egypt at Christmas?

Winter days in Egypt are usually mild and dry, but nights can get chilly, especially in the desert. In Cairo, daytime highs are about 18–21°C, while Luxor and Aswan are a bit warmer at 23–25°C. Nights are cooler, around 9–12°C. Rain is rare, but you might get a brief Mediterranean shower in Cairo or Alexandria. Pack layers and bring a light jacket for evenings and early mornings.

How far ahead should I book Christmas in Egypt?

Book your trip as early as possible. Nile cruise cabins, especially the nicer ones, often sell out in the weeks around 25 December and 1 January, and hotel prices rise as rooms fill. If it’s October and you’re planning, try to book your cruise and internal flights first, then arrange hotels and day tours.

Do I need a visa for Egypt at Christmas?

Many nationalities need a visa to visit Egypt. Most travelers can apply for an e-visa at the official Egyptian portal, visa2egypt.gov.eg, where the single-entry fee was about $30 in September 2026. Apply at least a week before your flight, since processing can take a few business days, and double-check the current fee before you pay.

13A Final Note from the Egypt Holiday Makers Team

Christmas in Egypt is different from what you might be used to, and that’s what makes it special. Enjoy the mild weather and famous monuments, and spend an evening in a Coptic church district on January 6. If you’re planning your trip in the autumn, book your cruise and flights now. Just let us know your dates, and we’ll send you a written quote.